Singapore, 12 May 2010: Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda Indonesia has introduced a VIP service for Executive Class passengers travelling from Singapore. Covering various aspects from pre-flight and arrival, the new service is also available to Garuda Frequent Flyer Platinum members.

This experience starts even before one board the aircraft. Upon arrival at the luxurious JetQuay CIP terminal located next to Changi International Airport, each passenger will be met by a personal concierge who will handle check-in, immigration and baggage clearances while they relax in the spacious five-star lounge. There is a host of amenities such as a full service business centre with Wi-Fi enabled PCs, a self-service bistro and a mini gym.  Passengers will then be transported via a dedicated buggy to the boarding gate in the main terminals when the flight is ready to depart.

Garuda Indonesia is the only carrier to date offering this premium service to Executive Class passengers, the equivalent of business class for other airlines. The addition of this service complements the unparalleled scheduling flexibility that Garuda Indonesia offers business travellers with seven daily flights to Jakarta from Singapore.

“While airlines across the region and beyond are scaling back on their business class products, Garuda Indonesia is actually investing heavily in service enhancements to capture the premium passenger market.”  said Iswandi Said, Senior General Manager – Area Asia, Europe & Middle East, Garuda Indonesia.

“Business and premium passengers are becoming more sophisticated and discerning in their travel preferences. Garuda Indonesia is constantly looking to develop innovative services and products to ensure that we stay ahead in this highly competitive industry.”

Passengers travelling from Singapore will fly onboard Garuda Indonesia’s new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The aircraft features Garuda Indonesia’s new signature interior, with individual touch-screen LCD TVs with Video on Demand (VOD) entertainmentsystems offering 25 feature films and 25 audio tracks. Executive Class passengers will also enjoy table service during meal times as they savour authentic Indonesian cuisine such as the mini Nasi Tumpeng.

For travellers heading to Jakarta, there will be dedicated immigration counters for Executive Class passengers to fast-track their immigration clearances. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport The same service is also available for passengers departing from Jakarta and in cities such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Garuda Indonesia has undergone a remarkable transformation across its safety, product and front-line service standards in its bid to become one of Asia’s most successful airlines. As a result, the airline was recently upgraded to a four-star rating by Skytrax Research in recognition of the significant improvements in its product and services quality.

About Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. It is a full-service network carrier and serves 28 domestic and 18 international destinations. The airline’s main hubs in Indonesia are located in Jakarta and Denpasar. In July 2009, the airline unveiled a new aircraft fleet, new in-flight product, new service concept and a fresh corporate identity to mark the start of its transformation into one of Asia’s most successful and profitable airlines. Garuda Indonesia received its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification in May 2008, recognising that the airline is fully compliant with global best-practice standards for flight operations, aircraft maintenance and safety management systems. In December 2009, the airline was also upgraded to a four-star rating by Skytrax, the global benchmark for airline service standards, confirming the improvement in its front-line product and service quality.